BMW i3, i8 to make Canadian debuts in Toronto

The BMW i (i3 pictured) will be making its Canadian premiere in Toronto.

PHOTO: Handout, BMW Group

BMW i8

PHOTO: Handout, BMW Group

BMW 3 Series Touring

PHOTO: Handout, BMW Group

Mini John Cooper Works GP

PHOTO: Handout, Mini

By National Post

Originally published: February 4, 2013

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BMW i

The BMW i will be making its Canadian premiere at this year’s Canadian International Auto Show. The BMW i is about the innovation and development of vehicles and services that offer a new idea of premium defined by sustainability, BMW says.

The BMW i3 Concept is one of two BMW i models that will be on display at this year’s CIAS. The i3 Concept can travel 160 kilometres on a full charge and can go from zero to 60 kilometres an hour in four seconds, the automaker says. The output of the concept car is 125kW or 170 horsepower, and it can be charged up to 80% in less than an hour, with a full charge taking six hours to complete. The stream flow design of the car is part of the LifeDrive architecture of BMW i, which allows the i3 to have ample interior space compared to models with a similar wheelbase.

The BMW i8 Coupe is the most progressive sports car of its time. BMW says. It is powered by BMW eDrive technology and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.6 seconds. The car is equipped with a three-cylinder combustion engine with 220 horsepower and has a projected fuel economy of 2.7 litres per 100 kilometres. The LifeDrive architecture is carefully designed to epitomize the sports car design while offering superior driving dynamics.

BMW M6 Gran Coupé

The BMW M6 Gran Coupé is the latest ultra-high performance model in the BMW M family, and combines the style of BMW’s four-door Coupé design with the performance of BMW M. With its four-door Coupé design, stunning aesthetics and race-bred technology, the four-plus-one seating arrangement allows the M6 Gran Coupé to carry four adults in luxury while offering the driver an unparalleled level of performance.

The new M6 Gran Coupé features the most-powerful engine ever fitted to an M production car, a 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 with 560 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. Teamed with a high-torque seven-speed M-double clutch transmission and the innovative Active M Differential, the M6 Gran Coupé is equipped with one of the most advanced drivetrains BMW has ever developed.

The new M6 Gran Coupé interior combines a feeling of control, spaciousness and luxury. With its driver-oriented cockpit, Merino Extended leather upholstery and exclusive carbon fibre interior trim, the M6 Gran Coupé is the definition of a premium automobile, BMW says. The M6 Gran Coupé also offers the M Drive configuration, allowing drivers to adjust settings such as engine management, steering and shifting to adjust the performance to their liking. M Head-Up Display is also featured, displaying important information on the windshield directly in the driver’s field of vision. Information projected includes speed read-out, the gear currently engaged and a colour rev-counter symbol.

BMW 3 Series Touring

The all-new 328i xDrive Touring is set to join the new sixth generation 3 Series lineup. With added space, flexibility and driving dynamics, this premium touring vehicle will offer the comfort and performance one would expect from a luxury utility vehicle, BMW says. This four-door model is a larger vehicle than its predecessor. These larger dimensions will be noticed through the addition of nearly 10% more cargo volume and increased legroom for rear passengers.

The new 3 Series Touring epitomizes performance, comfort and luxury, BMW says, and returns with an all-new four-cylinder gasoline engine with TwinPower Turbo technology. The all-new 328i xDrive Touring delivers 240 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and accelerates from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in just six seconds. This exceptional performance also offers outstanding fuel consumption — lower than its predecessor’s — at a combined 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The new eight-speed automatic transmission has exceptionally fast shift and reaction times, while the electronic transmission controller allows the driver to control the driving style, from a fuel-saving drive to a sportier, high-performance endeavour.

The new Driving Experience Control switch allows drivers to personalize their driving dynamics through four different modes: Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. These different modes activate different settings in the powertrain and suspension to help personalize the experience to the specific needs or desires of the driver.

Mini John Cooper Works GP

The Mini John Cooper Works GP is the latest addition to the Mini lineup, and it makes its Canadian premier at the Canadian International Auto Show. The fastest Mini ever built, the Mini John Cooper Works GP is equipped with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine coupled with a twin-scroll turbocharger and delivers 211 horsepower with 191 pound-feet of torque with a top speed of 242 kilometres an hour. The Mini John Cooper Works GP races from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in just 6.3 seconds and its passing time between 80 to 120 kilometres an hour is just 5.9 seconds, Mini says, injecting a race car experience into everyday driving. For the first time, Mini features an individually adjustable coilover suspension allowing ride height to be lowered by 20 millimetres for track purposes. Thanks to the unparalleled performance of the turbocharged engine, the Mini John Cooper Works GP provides exceptional fuel efficiency, offering a combined fuel economy of 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres.

The Mini John Cooper Works GP is anything but subtle, offering exclusive Thunder Grey metallic paint with a contrasting silver roof and red mirror caps. Accompanied with xenon headlights in black shells, fog lamps, sun protection glazing and a Sport button, the Mini JCW GP combines style, practicality and sport in one exhilarating package. Inside, the two-door vehicle is equipped with Chili Red interior accents, with Recaro Sports seats with special GP stitching, a thick-rimmed leather steering wheel, and piano black surfaces to make this car as eye-catching as possible, inside and out.